2 easy ones (famous last words)

Dear experts -
I have a multi-tab form, and I have two issues:
1) when I'm on tab 2 or 3, for example, there are just 1 or 2 fields from the underlying record on that tab (they're mostly filled with subforms). I want to update the underlying record with the data IN THAT FIELD that is being updated, without going through the form's Before Update event, which checks a lot of other stuff.
I then want to show that the record is not dirty.
What's the easiest way to do this?

2) Similarly, I have some subforms on these same tabs; I run certain procedures that update 1 or 2 fields in the underlying main record (the record that governs the parent form).
I want to update those fields, not hit the parent record's Before Update, and then show that the parent record is not dirty.

Thanks for any guidance!